THE 

CONSTITUTION 

OP THE { 

REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH 

OF 

NORTH AMERICA I 
WITH 

JLW APPENDIX, 

CONTAINING 

FORMULARIES FOR THE USE OF THE CHURCHES J 

TOGETHER WITH THE 
RULES AND ORDERS FOR THE GOVERNMENT 
OF THE 

GENERAL SYNOD* 

NEW- YORK: 
PRINTED BY L. NICHOLS, 111 BEEKMA.N-ST* 

1834. 



#1 



5^ 



Entered according to Act of Congress, A, D, 1S34, by 
" The General Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church," at 
the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States 
for the Southern District of New- York. 



EXTRACT 

from the Minutes of General Synod, June, 1834. 
€C Resolved, That an edition of 2000 copies of the Revised 
Constitution of the Dutch Church be printed on fine paper, 
done up in leather binding, with the Rules of Order for the 
government of the General Synod, and the various forms 
adopted by this Synod appended." 

" Resolved, That the Rev. Dr. Knox, Rev. T. M. Strong, 
and the Elder, John D. Keese, be a Committee to obtain 
and accept proposals for printing and binding the same, 
and to superintend the printing and publication." 

We certify , that this book has been published under our 
inspection, agreeably to the above order of General Synod, 
JOHN KNOX, 
THOMAS M. STRONG, 
JOHN D. KEESE, 

New- York, July, 1834. 



INTRODUCTION. 



For the maintenance of good order in the Church 
of Christ, it is necessary there should be certain 
Offices and Assemblies, and a strict attention to 
Doctrines, Sacraments, Usages, and Christian 
Discipline; of all which the following eccle- 
siastical ordinances particularly treat. 



CHAPTER I. 

Of the Offices in the Church. 

The Offices in the Church of Christ are fourfold , 
viz. 

1. The Office of Ministers of the Word. 

2. The Office of Teachers of Theology. 

3. The Office of Elders. 

4. The Office of Deacons. 

1* 



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ARTICLE I. 

Of Ministers of the Word. 

Sec. 1 . No person shall be allowed to exercise 
the office of a Minister, without being thereinto 
regularly inducted, according to the word of God, 
and the order established by the Church. 

Sec. 2. Every person contemplating the work 
of the ministry, before he commences his course 
of Theological studies, shall furnish satisfactory 
evidence of his being a member in full communion 
and in good standing of a Reformed Protestant 
Church ; of his piety, abilities, and literary attain- 
ments, and thereupon shall be admitted into the 
Theological School ; and during the prosecution 
of his studies there, shall be subject to the rules 
and regulations thereof, and when he shall have 
completed the prescribed course and term of The- 
ological studies, shall be admitted to an exa- 
mination according to the regulations of the school, 
as established by General Synod ; and if found 
qualified, shall receive a professoral certificate to 
that effect, which shall entitle him to an examina- 
tion for licensure before the Classis to which he 
belongs. 

Sec. 3. In the examination, strict attention shall 
be paid to the attainments of the Student, not only 



3 



in the original languages of the Sacred Scriptures, 
in Biblical Literature, in composition, and his me- 
thod of sermonizing, but he shall be especially 
examined respecting his knowledge in Theology, 
his orthodoxy, his piety, and his views in desiring 
to become a preacher of the Gospel. 

Sec. 4. Whoever, upon examination, shall be 
approved by the Classis, must, before he is licensed, 
attest his adherence to the doctrines of the Gos- 
pel, by subscribing the following formula, viz.— 

" We, the underwritten, testify, that the Hei- 
delbergh Catechism, and the Confession of the 
Netherland Churches ; as also the Canons of the 
National Synod of Dordrecht, held in the years 
1618 and 1619, are fully conformable to the word 
of God. We promise moreover, that as far as we 
are able, we will, with all faithfulness, teach and 
defend, both in public and private, the doctrines 
established in the standards aforesaid. And, 
should ever any part of these doctrines appear to us 
dubious, we will not divulge the same to the peo- 
ple, nor disturb the peace of the church or of any 
community, until we first communicate our senti- 
ments to the ecclesiastical judicatories under which 
we stand, and subject ourselves to the counsel and 
sentence of the same." 

Sec. 5. After subscribing the aforesaid formula, 



8 



the candidate shall be entitled to a certificate, or 
testimonial signed by the President of Classis, 
before whom the examination is held, containing a 
license to preach the Gospel. 

Sec. 6. A candidate for the ministry is permit- 
ted only to preach the word, but he may not, under 
any pretence whatever, administer the sacraments; 
nor can he be a delegate to represent a church in 
any ecclesiastical assembly. 

Sec. 7. Every candidate for the ministry is to 
consider himself under the immediate direction of 
the Classis which examined him, and subject to 
the control of the General Synod, and is to visit 
such congregations, and preach in those places to 
which the Classis or Synod shall send him : but if 
no particular directions are given, he may preach 
at his own discretion in any congregation that shall 
invite him. 

Sec. 8. Upon receiving a call from any parti- 
cular congregation, a candidate shall be allowed 
time to consider the propriety of his accepting it. 
If more than one call is before him at the same 
time, he may determine which he will prefer ; but 
if there be only one, it is expected he will not 
finally refuse the same, before having first referred 
his difficulties to the Classis, and obtained proper 
advice. 



9 



Sec. 9, A candidate who has accepted a call, 
must offer himself to be examined for his becom- 
ing a Minister. In this final examination, besides 
a repetition of his previous trials in composition 
and sermonizing, the original languages of the 
Sacred Scriptures, Biblical Literature, and his 
knowledge of Theology, as well didactic as pole- 
mic ; he shall be interrogated respecting the na- 
ture and administration of the sacraments, the 
duties of the ministry, and his knowledge of Ec- 
clesiastical History, and of Church Government. 

Sec. 10. Upon giving satisfaction in the exa- 
mination, the candidate shall subscribe the follow- 
ing formula, viz. — 

" We, the underwritten, Ministers of the word 
of God, residing within the bounds of the Classis of 
N. N., do hereby sincerely, and in good conscience 
before the Lord, declare by this our subscription, 
that we heartily believe, and are persuaded, that all 
the articles and points of doctrine contained in the 
Confession and Catechism of the Reformed Dutch 
Church, together with the explanation of some 
points of the aforesaid doctrine made in the Na- 
tional Synod held at Dordreeht in the year 1619, 
do fully agree with the word of God. We promise 
therefore, diligently to teach, and faithfully to de- 
fend the aforesaid doctrine, without either directly 



10 



or indirectly contradicting the same by our public 
preaching or writings. We declare moreover, that 
we not only reject all errors that militate against 
this doctrine, and particularly those which are 
condemned in the above-mentioned Synod ; but 
that we are disposed to refute and contradict them, 
and to exert ourselves in keeping the church pure 
from such errors. And if hereafter any difficul- 
ties, or different sentiments respecting the afore- 
said doctrine should arise in our mind3, we pro- 
mise that we will neither publicly nor privately 
propose, teach, or defend the same, either by 
preaching or writing, until we have first revealed 
such sentiment to the Consistory, Classis, or Synod, 
that the same may be there examined ; being ready 
always cheerfully to submit to the judgment of the 
Consistory, Classis, or Synod, under the penalty, 
in case of refusal, to be ipso facto suspended from 
our office. And farther, if at any time the Con- 
sistory, the Classis, or Synod, upon sufficient 
grounds of suspicion, and to preserve the unifor- 
mity and purity of doctrine, may deem it proper 
to require of us a farther explanation of our senti- 
ments respecting any particular article of the Con- 
fession of Faith, the Catechism, or the explanation 
of the National Synod, we do hereby promise to 
be always willing and ready to comply with such 



requisition, under the penalty above mentioned ; 
reserving, however, to ourselves the right of an 
appeal, whenever we shall conceive ourselves ag- 
grieved by the sentence of the Consistory, the 
Classis, or Particular Synod ; and until a decision 
is made upon such appeal, we will acquiesce in 
the determination and judgment already passed.' 5 

Sec. 1 1 . Upon subscribing the aforesaid formula, 
a certificate, signed by the President, shall be 
given to the candidate; and the Classis before 
which the examination is held, shall fix a day for 
his ordination. 

Sec. 12. The ordination shall be conducted by 
the Classis with proper solemnity, a sermon suited 
to the occasion shall be preached by him who has 
been appointed for that purpose, and the promises, 
directions, explanations of duty, with a laying on 
of hands, shall be agreeably to the form for that 
end expressly made and adopted. 

Sec. 13. The office of a Minister is to persevere 
in prayer and the ministry of the word ; to dis- 
pense the sacraments ; to watch over his brethren 
the Elders and Deacons, as well as over the whole 
congregation ; and lastly, in conjunction with the 
Elders, to exercise Christian discipline, and to be 
careful that all things be done decently and in 
good order. Every Minister must consider him- 



12 



self as wholly devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ 
in the service of the church ; and shall faithfully 
fulfil the obligations of his call, in preaching, cate- 
chizing, and visiting his flock ; and be instant in 
season and out of season ; and by word and ex- 
ample always promote the spiritual welfare of his 
people. 

Sec. 14. No person shall be ordained to the 
ministry of the word, without settling in some con- 
gregation, unless he be sent as a Missionary to 
churches, or employed to gather congregations, 
where none have as yet been established. 

Sec. 15. A minister of the word, being once 
lawfully called, in manner before mentioned, is 
bound to the service of the sanctuary, as long as 
he liveth. Therefore, he shall not be at liberty 
to devote himself to a secular vocation, except for 
great and important reasons, concerning which 
the Classis shall inquire and determine. 

Sec. 16. No Minister, relinquishing the service 
of his own church, or being unattached to any 
particular congregation, shall be permitted to 
preach indiscriminately from place to place, with- 
out the consent and authority of the Classis ; in 
like manner, no Minister may preach or adminis- 
ter the sacraments in any church other than his 
own, without the consent of the Consistory of that 
church. 



13 



Sec. 17. Ministers, who by reason of old age ? 
or habitual sickness and infirmities, either of mind 
or body, are not capable of fulfilling the duties of 
the ministry, may, upon application, and sufficient 
proof of such incapacity being made to the Classis, 
be declared emeriti, and be excused from all far- 
ther service in the church during such infirmity ; 
reserving, however, to them the title, rank, and 
character, which before such declaration they en- 
joyed. In all such cases, before the Classis de- 
clares any minister emeritus, they shall require a 
stipulation in writing from the Consistory to which 
he belongs, under their common seal, and signed 
by their President, to pay such Minister annually, 
in half yearly payments, during his exemption 
from pastoral service, for his support, such sum 
as the Classis shall deem reasonable, having due 
regard to the stated salary of such Minister, and 
the situation and ability of the congregation. 

Sec. 18. For the regular obtaining of dismis- 
sions, when a Minister has received and accepted 
a call from another place, it is required that a 
neighbouring Minister of the same Classis to 
which the congregation belongs, be invited to be 
present, and superintend the dismission of the 
Minister from his congregation, countersign the 
instrument of dismission, and consider it as hie 
2 



14 



duty to deliver the same, with a report upon the 
subject, to the Classis ; which report and document 
shall serve as a basis upon which the final dis- 
mission and certificate of the Classis shall be 
founded. 

Sec. 19. All Ministers of the Gospel are equal 
in rank and authority ; all are Bishops, or Over- 
seers in the church ; and all are equal Stewards 
of the mysteries of God. No superiority shall 
therefore be ever claimed or acknowledged by 
one Minister over another, nor shall there be any 
lords over God's heritage in the Reformed Dutch 
Churches. 

Sec. 20. Consistories of vacant congregations 
shall not invite or permit Ministers of other deno- 
minations in this country, whose characters and 
standing are not known, to preach within their 
bounds, unless they exhibit satisfactory evidence 
in writing, of a recent date, of their regular au- 
thority for that purpose, and their good standing ; 
and in all doubtful cases, such Consistories shall 
consult a Standing Committee of Classis to be ap- 
pointed for that purpose. 

Sec. 21. The judicatories of the church shall 
receive no Licentiates or Ministers under their 
care from any body of professing Christians, who 
maintain doctrines different from those of the 



15 



Reformed Dutch Church, without an open and 
explicit declaration, on their part, that they have 
renounced such doctrines, as contrary to the Holy 
Scriptures, and the standards of our church. If 
an application be made for admission of a Minister 
from a church with which we are in correspond- 
ence, it shall be competent for the Classis, in case 
there be grounds of presumption against bis doc- 
trine and morals, to propose such inquiries as shall 
enable them to proceed with freedom in his case. 

Sec. 22. With respect to foreigners, who claim 
the privilege of preaching the Gospel, no Consis- 
tory shall be permitted to invite any one of them, 
of whatever denomination, to preach, before he 
shall lay his credentials before the Classis to which 
such Consistory is subordinate, and be regularly 
accepted and authorized by them to exercise his 
ministry within their bounds ; and no Classis shall 
be permitted to receive and accredit such foreign 
Minister, unless he produce to them, besides am- 
ple and regular certificates of his license or ordi- 
nation, and of his dismission and recommendations, 
of recent date, from the competent church judica- 
tory, letters of recommendation also from some 
known respectable character, in the country from 
which he has emigrated, to his correspondent in 
this country, stating the authenticity of his ere- 



IG 

dentials, and the good character and standing of 
the bearer, as a Minister of the Gospel, and that 
he is an advocate of the doctrines of grace pro- 
fessed by the Reformed Church. 

ARTICLE II. 

Of Teachei % s of Theology. 
Sec. 1. As it is of the last importance that 
Professors of Theology should be sound in the 
faith, possess abilities to teach, and have the con- 
fidence of the churches, they shall always, for the 
greater security, be chosen and appointed by a 
majority of votes in the General Synod only. To 
prevent, as far as possible, the unhappy conse- 
quences of partiality, haste, or undue influence in 
obtaining an office of such consequence to the 
church, a nomination of one or more candidates 
shall be previously made, upon which the Synod 
shall fix a day when they will proceed to an elec- 
tion ; provided that no appointment of a Professor 
in Theology shall ever be made on the same day 
on which he is nominated. An instrument certi- 
fying the appointment, and specifying the general 
duties of the office, shall be signed in the presence 
of the General Synod, by the President thereof, 
and by him be given, in the name of the church, 
to the person elected. 



17 



Sec. 2. No person shall be appointed to the office 
of a Professor, who is not a Minister in good stand- 
ing, and every Professor of Theology shall continue 
in his office daring life, unless in case of such misbe- 
haviour as shall be deemed a violation of the obli- 
gations entered into at his appointment ; or unless 
he voluntarily deserts or resigns his profession ; 
or from age or infirmities becomes incapable of 
fulfilling the duties thereof ; of all which the Ge- 
neral Synod alone shall judge ; and to that Synod 
a Professor of Theology shall always be amenable 
for his doctrine, mode of teaching, and moral 
conduct. 

Sec . 3. No Professor of Theology shall be per- 
mitted to officiate until he shall have subscribed 
the following formula, viz.— 

" We, the underwritten, Professors of Sacred 
Theology in the Reformed Dutch Church, by this 
our subscription, uprightly, and in good conscience 
before God, declare, that we heartily believe, and 
are persuaded, that all the articles and points of 
doctrine contained in the Confession and Cate- 
chism of the Reformed Dutch Churches, together 
with the .explanation of some points of the said 
doctrine, made in the National Synod, held at Dor- 
drecht, in the year 1619, do fully agree with the 
word of God. We promise, therefore, that we will 
2* 



18 



diligently teach, and faithfully defend the aforesaid 
doctrine ; and that we will not inculcate or write, 
either publicly or privately, directly or indirectly, 
any thing against the same. As also, that we 
reject not only all the errors which militate against 
this doctrine, and particularly those which are 
condemned in the above-mentioned Synod ; but 
that we are disposed to refute the same, openly to 
oppose them, and to exert ourselves in keeping 
the church pure from such errors. Should it ne- 
vertheless hereafter happen, that any objections 
against the doctrine might arise in our minds, or 
we entertain different sentiments, we promise that 
we will not, either publicly or privately, propose, 
teach, or defend the same, by preaching or writing, 
until we have first fully revealed such sentiments 
to the General Synod, to whom we are responsi- 
ble ; that our opinions may in the said General 
Synod receive a thorough examination, being ready 
always cheerfully to submit to the judgment of the 
General Synod, under the penalty, in case of refu- 
sal, to be censured by the said Synod. And when- 
ever the General Synod, upon sufficient grounds 
of suspicion, and to preserve the uniformity and 
purity of doctrines, may deem it proper to demand 
from us a more particular explanation of our sen- 
timents respecting any article of the aforesaid 



19 



Confession, Catechism, or Explanation of the 
National Synod, we promise hereby to be always 
willing and ready to comply with such demand, 
under the penalty before mentioned ; reserving to 
ourselves the right of rehearing, or a new trial, if 
we shall conceive ourselves aggrieved in the sen- 
tence of the General Synod ; during the depend- 
ence of which new trial, we promise to acquiesce 
in the judgment already passed, as well as finally 
to submit, without disturbing the peace of the 
churches, to the ultimate decision of the said Ge- 
neral Synod." 

Sec. 4. No Professor, while in office, shall have 
the Pastoral charge of any congregation, or be a 
member of any Ecclesiastical Assembly or Judi- 
catory ; but, as a Minister of the Gospel, may 
preach, and administer, or assist in administering 
the sacraments in any congregation with the con- 
sent of the Minister or Consistory. 

Sec. 5. A Professor shall be at liberty to resign 
his office, by sending in his resignation to the Pre- 
sident of General Synod, on the first day of any 
regular meeting, and giving six months previous 
notice to the said President of his intention to 
do so. 



20 



ARTICLE III. 

Of the Offices of Elders and Deacons. 

Sec. 1. The office of Elders (besides what is 
common to them with the Ministers of the Word, 
expressed in Chapter I. Article 1. Section 13,) is, 
to take heed that the Ministers, together with their 
fellow-Elders and Deacons, faithfully discharge 
their respective duties ; and also, especially before 
or after the Lord's supper, as time and circum- 
stances permit, and as shall be most for the edifi- 
cation of the congregation, to assist in performing 
visitations, in order particularly to instruct and 
comfort the members in full communion, as well 
as to exhort others to the regular profession of the 
Christian religion. 

Sec. 2. The office peculiar to the Deacons is, 
diligently to collect the alms and other moneys 
appropriated for the use of the poor, and with the 
advice of the Consistory, cheerfully and faithfully 
to distribute the same to strangers, as well as to 
those of their own household, according to the 
measure of their respective necessities ; to visit 
and comfort the distressed, and to be careful that 
the alms be not misused ; of the distribution of 
which, they shall render an account in Consistory, 
at such time as the said Consistory shall deter- 



21 



mine, and in the presence of so many of the con- 
gregation as may choose to attend. Should more 
be collected than the necessities of the poor may 
require, such surplus may, with the consent of 
the Consistory, be devoted to other purposes, con- 
nected with the wants of the church. 

Sec. 3. In all cases the Elders and Deacons 
shall be chosen from the male members of the 
church, in full communion, and in forming new 
churches, they shall be chosen by the male com- 
municants ; at whose election a neighbouring Mi- 
nister of the Reformed Dutch Church shall pre- 
side ; and notice of the time and place of such 
election shall be published at least two Sabbaths, 
in the church or usual place of worship, previous 
to the election. 

Sec. 4. The manner of choosing Elders and 
Deacons in churches already organized, shall be 
as follows : A double number may be nominated 
by the Consistory, out of which the members of 
the church in full communion, may choose those 
who shall serve.— Or, all the said members may 
unite in nominating and choosing the whole num- 
ber without the interference of the Consistory. — 
Or, the Consistory, for the time being, as repre- 
senting all the members, may choose the whole, 
and refer the persons thus chosen, by publishing 
them in the church, for the approbation of the 



22 

people. This last method has been found most 
convenient, especially in large churches, and has 
long been generally adopted. But where that, or 
either of the other modes has for many years been 
followed in any church, there shall be no variation 
or change, but by previous application to the 
Classis, and express leave first obtained for alter- 
ing such custom. 

Sec. 5. The Elders and Deacons shall be chosen 
to serve two years, except when chosen to fill a 
vacancy or vacancies occasioned by death, removal 
out of the congregation, resignation, or dismission 
from office, by the sentence of the Consistory ; in 
either of which cases, the person or persons chosen 
to fill such vacancy or vacancies,, shall serve for 
the residue of the term only. 

Sec. 6. In order to avoid the inconvenience of 
an entire change at one time, the first Elders and 
Deacons of new congregations shall, at the first 
meeting of the Consistory after their ordination, 
be put into two classes, and the classes be marked 
Numbers 1 and 2, and the names to be put into 
each class shall be determined by ballot, and the 
term of service in Consistory of those in the first 
class shall expire at the end of the first year, so 
that one half of the whole number of Elders and 
Deacons may be elected annually. The same 
course shall be pursued by all the Consistories 



23 



when they shall deem it requisite to enlarge the 
number of their Elders and Deacons, so far as 
relates to the additional number of members chosen 
by them. But this does not forbid the liberty of 
immediately choosing the same persons again, if 
from any circumstances it may be judged expedient 
to continue them in Consistory by a re-election. 



CHAPTER II. 
Of Ecclesiastical Assemblies. 

ARTICLE I. 

Of Ecclesiastical Assemblies in general. 

Sec, 1. The Ecclesiastical Assemblies which 
shall be maintained, are, 

1. Consistorial. 

2. Classical. 

3. Synodical. 

Sec. 2. In these assemblies ecclesiastical mat- 
ters only shall be transacted, and that in an eccle- 
siastical manner. A greater assembly shall take 
cognizance of those things alone which could not 
be determined in a less, or that appertain to the 
churches or congregations in general, which com- 
pose such an assembly. 



24 



Sec. 3. The transactions of all Ecclesiastical 
Assemblies shall begin and conclude with prayer. 

Sec. 4. Those who are delegated to attend the 
assemblies shall bring with them credentials, signed 
by those who send them ; and such only shall be 
entitled to a vote. 

Sec. 5. In all assemblies there shall be a Pre- 
sident and Secretary. The business of the Se- 
cretary shall be to keep a faithful record of all the 
proceedings. The office of the President is to 
state and explain the business which is to be trans- 
acted ; to preserve order ; and in general to main- 
tain that decorum and dignity becoming a judica- 
tory of the Church of Christ. 

Sec. 6. A Classis has the same jurisdiction 
over a Consistory, which a Particular Synod has 
over a Classis, and a General Synod over a Par- 
ticular. 

Sec. 7. Any individual conceiving himself to 
be personally aggrieved or injured by the decision 
of a lower Judicatory, may appeal therefrom to the 
judgment of an higher Judicatory ; and any lower 
Judicatory, as a Consistory or Classis, esteeming 
itself aggrieved by the judgment or censure of a 
higher, enjoys the same privilege ; but in such 
case the appeal must be made by the Judicatory as 
such when regularly convened, and not by any 



25 



individuals belonging to it. Every individual ap- 
pealing, is bound to give his appeal, with the rea- 
sons thereof, in writing, to the Judicatory appealed 
from, or to the President thereof, at the most in 
ten days after notice of his intention ; which notice 
is to be given at the time when he conceives him- 
self aggrieved ; and on default his appeal falls. 
The appeal of a Consistory or Classis may be made 
after the session of the Judicatory at which the 
decision appealed from was given, but it must be 
made known and the reasons of it stated in writing 
to the President, a reasonable length of time be- 
fore the next meeting of the higher Judicatory to 
which the appeal is made. If the appellant give 
notice and satisfactory reasons to the President of 
the Judicatory to which the appeal is made that he 
cannot attend at their next stated meeting, his ap- 
peal shall lie over to their next following stated 
meeting ; but if no such notice and reason be given, 
and he does not appear to prosecute his appeal, it 
shall be considered as relinquished. It shall be the 
duty of the several lower ecclesiastical assemblies, 
from whose acts, proceedings, or decisions any ap- 
peal is made, to transmit a certified copy of the act? 
proceeding, or decision so appealed from, signed 
by the President, and countersigned by the Clerk, 
together with the appeal and reasons accompany- 
3 



26 



ing the same to the assembly appealed to at the 
next regular meeting thereof. 

Sec. 3. No member of an ecclesiastical assem- 
bly shall be allowed to protest against any of its 
acts; any member who dissents from any such 
acts, shall have a right to require the names of all 
the members present, who vote for or against the 
same, to be entered in the minutes, and published 
therewith for the information of all concerned. 

Sec. 9. In order to prevent vexation and delay 
in the judicial proceedings of any ecclesiastical 
assembly by means of successive appeals in the 
progress of any trial or investigation, the party 
w ho may consider himself aggrieved by any deci- 
sion, upon any incidental question which may arise 
before a final sentence is pronounced, may state 
his objections to such decision, and require to have 
the same noted in the minutes of the proceedings, 
to the end that he may avail himself thereof on an 
appeal from the final sentence, without arresting 
the progress of such investigation or trial. And 
in such cases every decision objected to, as well 
as the objections, shall be distinctly stated in the 
minutes of such assembly, and sent up with the 
appeal to the appellate judicatory for review. 

Sec. 10. Individuals who have voted in a lower 
court upon a case which is carried up by appeal, 



27 



shall not be at liberty to vote upon the trial of the 
appeal in the higher courts. 

Sec. 11. In any decision or adjudication of an 
ecclesiastical court which the minority, or any 
member of the minority may regard as injuriously 
affecting the interests of truth, or of vital godliness, 
they may present the same to the Classis, Parti- 
cular or General Synod, by way of complaint, for 
their examination and supervision. 

Sec. 12. This complaint, if entertained, brings 
the whole proceedings in the case under the review 
of the superior judicatory. 

Sec. 13. No person shall be admitted to a seat 
in any of our ecclesiastical assemblies as an advi- 
sory member. 

ARTICLE II. 

Of Consistories. 

Sec. 1 . The Elders and Deacons, together with 
the Minister or Ministers, if any, shall form a 
Consistory, and the Minister shall preside at all 
consistorial meetings ; but in the absence of a 
Minister, the Consistory may appoint one of the 
Elders to be their president pro tern., and it shall 
be competent for the several Consistories to pre- 
scribe the mode and time of calling their meetings. 



28 



If there be a plurality of Ministers, they shall pre- 
side in rotation. 

Sec. 2. The Elders, with the Ministers of the 
word, constitute what in the original Article of 
Church Government is properly called the Consis- 
tory. But as the Deacons have always in America, 
where the congregations were at first very small, 
(See Synod Dord. Art. 38.) been joined with the 
Elders ; and wherever charters have been obtained 
are particularly named, as forming with them one 
Consistory, it is necessary to define their joint as 
well as respective powers. From the form of 
their ordination, it is evident, that to the Elders, 
together with the Ministers of the word, is com- 
mitted the spiritual government of the church ; 
while to the Deacons belong the obtaining chari- 
table assistance, and the distribution of the same, 
in the most effectual manner for the relief and 
comfort of the poor. When joined together in 
one board, the Elders and Deacons have all an 
equal voice in whatever relates to the temporalities 
of the church, to the calling of a Minister, or the 
choice of their own successors; in all which they 
are considered as the general and joint representa- 
tives of the people : but in admitting members to 
full communion ; in exercising discipline upon 
those who have erred from the faith, or offended 



29 



in morals ; and in choosing delegates to attend 
the Classis, the Elders, with the Ministers, have 
alone a voice. 

Sec. 3. No Consistory shall be constituted in 
any place without the previous advice and con- 
currence of Classis. 

Sec. 4. Elders and Deacons shall be chosen 
annually, and the result of such election shall be 
published in the church, or usual place of worship 
of the congregation, three successive Sabbaths 
previous to their ordination, to the end that all 
lawful objections to such ordination may be of- 
fered to, and duly considered and adjudicated by 
the Consistory. A majority of the Consistory, 
regularly convened, shall be a quorum for the 
transaction of business, and in like manner a ma. 
jority of Ministers and Elders, and also a majority 
of Deacons so convened, shall be a quorum re- 
spectively. It shall be competent for the Consis- 
tory, when an election shall have been omitted at 
the usual time, to appoint another time for that 
purpose, on an early day, giving the like notice as 
herein above prescribed, and in like manner for 
filling vacancies which may occur. 

Sec. 5. The particular spiritual government of the 
congregation is committed to the Ministers and El- 
ders, It is therefore their duty at all times to be vigi- 
3* 



30 



lant, to preserve discipline, and to promote the peace 
and spiritual interest of the congregation. Particu- 
larly before the celebration of the Lord's Supper, 
a faithful and solemn inquiry is to be made, by the 
President, whether to the knowledge of those pre- 
sent, any member in full communion has departed 
from the faith, or in walk or conversation has be- 
haved unworthy the Christian profession ? that 
such as are guilty may be properly rebuked, ad- 
monished, or suspended from the privilege of ap- 
proaching the Lord's Table, and all offences may 
be removed out of the church of Christ. 

Sec. 6. None can be received as members in 
full communion, unless they first shall have made 
a confession of their faith before the Minister, if 
any, and the Elders, or have produced a certificate 
of their being members in full communion of some 
Reformed Church ; all such shall be published to 
the congregation, and be registered as regular 
members in the church. 

Sec. 7. In every congregation, a distinct and 
fair register shall be preserved by the Minister of 
every baptism and marriage there celebrated, and 
of all who are received as members in full commu- 
nion. It shall be the duty of the several Consis- 
tories to make a statistical report to the Classis at 



31 



their meeting, immediately preceding the annual 
meetings of the Particular and General Synod, 
according to such formula as General Synod shall 
prescribe, and accompany the same with such re- 
marks on the spiritual state of the congregation as 
they may deem proper. 

Sec. 8. Every Consistory shall keep regular 
minutes of their meetings and proceedings, and 
shall lay such minutes, so far as the same relate 
to ecclesiastical proceedings, at least once a year, 
before the Classis with which they are connected, 
for their information. 

Sec. 9. It shall be incumbent upon members 
of the church, in removing from the bounds of 
one church to another, to obtain a certificate of 
membership and dismission. 

Sec. 10. Consistories possess the right of call- 
ing Ministers for their own congregations, except 
where otherwise provided for by charter. But in 
exercising this right, they are bound to use their 
utmost endeavours, either by consulting with the 
great Consistory, or with the congregation at large, 
to know what person would be most acceptable to 
the people. 

Sec. 11. A neighbouring minister (if there be 
none belonging to the Consistory) must be invited 
to superintend the proceedings, whenever a Con- 



32 



sislory is desirous of making a call. The instru- 
ment is to be signed by the members of the Con- 
sistory, or by the President, in the name of the 
Consistory ; and if the church be incorporated, it 
is proper to affix the seal of the corporation. 
When the call is completed, it must be laid by the 
Consistory before the Classis, and be approved 
by the same, before it can be presented to the 
person called ; and if the call be accepted, for the 
purpose of receiving the approbation of the peo- 
ple, the name of such Minister shall be published 
in the church three Sabbaths successively, that 
opportunity may be given for stating lawful objec- 
tions, if any there be. 

Sec. 12. For the purpose of uniformity, the 
form of a call shall be as follows : — 

" To N. N. 

" Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father, 
and Jesus Christ our Lord. 

" Whereas the Church of Jesus Christ at , 

is at present destitute of the stated preaching of 
the word, and the regular administration of the 
ordinances, and is desirous of obtaining the means 
of grace, which God hath appointed for the salva- 
tion of sinners, through Jesus Christ his Son : 
And whereas the said Church is well satisfied of 



33 



the piety, gifts, and ministerial qualifications of 
you N. N., and hath good hope that your labours 
in the Gospel will be attended with a blessing : 
Therefore we [the style and title of the said Church'] 
have resolved to call, and we hereby solemnly, and 
in the fear of the Lord, do call you the said N. N. 
to be our pastor and teacher, to preach the word 
in truth and faithfulness, to administer the holy 
sacraments agreeably to the institution of Christ, 
to maintain Christian discipline, to edify the con- 
gregation, and especially the youth, by catecheti- 
cal instructions ; and, as a faithful servant of Jesus 
Christ, to fulfil the whole work of the Gospel 
ministry, agreeably to the word of God, and the 
excellent rules and constitution of our Reformed 
Dutch Church, established in the last National 
Synod, held at Dordrecht, and ratified and explained 
by the ecclesiastical judicatory under which we 
stand, and to which you, upon accepting this call, 
must with us remain subordinate. 

" In fulfilling the ordinary duties of your ministry, 
it is expressly stipulated, that besides preaching 
upon such texts of Scripture as you may judge 
proper to select for our instruction, you also ex- 
plain a portion of the Heidelbergh Catechism on 
the Lord's days, agreeably to the established order 
of the Preformed Dutch Church ; and that you far- 



o4 

ther conform in rendering all that public service 
which is usual, and has been in constant practice 
in our congregation. The particular service which 
will be required of you is, [here insert a detail of 
such particulars, if any there he, which the situa- 
tion of the congregation may render necessary ; 
especially in case of combinations, when the service 
required in the respective congregations must he 
ascertained ; or when the Dutch and English lan- 
guages are both requisite, the proportion of each 
may he mentioned, or left discretionary as may he 
judged proper.] 

" To encourage you in the discharge of the du- 
ties of your important office, we promise you in 
the name of this Church all proper attention, love, 
and obedience in the Lord ; and to free you from 
worldly care3 and avocations while you are dis- 
pensing spiritual blessings to us, we [the Elders 
and Deacons, <fyc. the style and title of the Church] 
do promise and oblige ourselves to pay to you the 

sum of , in payments, yearly and every 

year as long as you continue the Minister of this 
Church, together with [such particulars as may 
refer to a parsonage or other emoluments.] For 
the performance of all which, we hereby bind our- 
selves, and our successors, firmly by these presents. 
The Lord incline your heart to a cheerful accept- 



35 



ance of this call, and send you to us in the fulness 
of the blessing of the Gospel of peace ! 

" Done in Consistory, and subscribed with our 

names, this — — day of — , in the year — — 

Attested by N. N. Moderator of the call. 

Sec. 13. Since it is deemed of the highest im- 
portance that there should be regular instruction 
on the great articles of the Christian faith, in order 
to preserve the truth, and to promote the prospe- 
rity of the church, every Minister shall, in the 
ordinary morning or afternoon service on the 
Lord's day, explain the system of the Christian 
doctrine comprehended in the Heidelbergh Cate- 
chism adopted by the reformed churches, so that, 
if practicable, the explanation may be annually 
completed, but shall never be extended beyond 
the term of four years. The several Classes shall, 
at their stated meetings, preceding the annual 
meeting of General Synod, make strict inquiry 
whether the preceding part of this section has 
been fully complied with by every Minister, and 
if any Minister shall be found deficient, without 
sufficient reason, the Classis shall inflict such cen- 
sure as they in their wisdom may judge the omis- 
sion to merit ; and the several Classes shall make 
a full and faithful report of the result of their 



36 



inquiries and doings on this behalf to the Particu- 
lar Synod. 

Sec. 14. When any Minister shall be duly con- 
victed of any offence which implicates the purity 
of his clerical character, and shall, in consequence 
of such conviction, be suspended from his office, 
and the conviction and suspension shall be sus- 
tained on a final appeal, his pastoral connexion 
with the congregation in which he was settled 
shall, if the Consistory so elect, be isyo facto dis- 
solved. 

Sec. 15. Consistories which have hitherto com- 
bined with one or more neighbouring Consistories, 
in making calls and having a Minister to serve in 
common, may not at pleasure break such combi- 
nation ; but whenever their situation and circum- 
stances render them capable of severally calling a 
Minister, a representation thereof must be made 
to the Classis, and leave be first requested and 
obtained, before their former connexions can be 
dissolved. 

Sec. 16. When matters of peculiar importance 
occur, particularly in calling a Minister, building 
of churches, or whatever relates immediately to 
the peace and welfare of the whole congregation, 
it is usual (and it is strongly recommended upon 
such occasions always) for the Consistory to call 



37 



together all those who have ever served as Elders 
or Deacons, that by their advice and counsel they 
may assist the members of the Consistory. These, 
when assembled, constitute what is called the 
great Consistory. From the object, or design of 
their assembling, the respective powers of each 
are easily ascertained. Those who are out of 
office have only an advisory or counselling voice ; 
and, as they are not actual members of the board 
or corporation, cannot have a decisive vote. After 
obtaining the advice, it rests with the members of 
the Consistory to follow the counsel given them, 
or not, as they shall judge proper. But, unless 
very urgent reasons should appear to the contrary, 
it will be prudent and expedient in all cases to 
comply with the advice of those, w r ho from their 
numbers and influence in the congregation, may 
be supposed to speak the language of the people, 
and to know what will be most for edification and 
peace. 

ARTICLE III. 

Of the Classis. 
Sec. 1. A Classis consists of all the Ministers, 
and an Elder delegated from each Consistory 
within the bounds prescribed by Particular Synod. 
Collegiate Churches shall be entitled to an Elder 
4 



38 



for each ordinary worshipping assembly. To con- 
stitute a Classis, at least three Ministers and three 
Elders are required. 

Sec. 2. Classis shall have the power of approv- 
ing or disapproving calls ; ordaining, suspending, 
and deposing Ministers, or dismissing them when 
called elsewhere. They shall have the power of 
forming new congregations, and determining- the 
boundaries of congregations when such bounda- 
ries are contested ; of continuing combinations 
of two or more congregations, the dissolution 
and change of the same ; and a general supervising 
power in cases of appeal over the acts and pro- 
ceedings of the Consistories within their bounds, 
which relate to the spiritual concerns of their 
particular churches, and the conduct of any of the 
officers thereof. 

Sec. 3. The peculiar prerogative of Classes, 
that of examining students of theology for their 
becoming candidates for the ministry, and of can- 
didates for their becoming Ministers, is very im- 
portant, and must always be attended to with great 
prudence, zeal, and fidelity. Every student of 
theology, when he shall have become prepared for 
examination for licensure, shall present himself 
for such examination to the Classis within whose 
bounds he resided when he entered upon Ms 
preparatory studies, and a candidate who has 



39 



received a call, must be examined by the Classis 
under whose jurisdiction the church that has made 
the call is placed. 

Sec. 4. At ever}' examination of a student or 
candidate by a Classis, it shall be the duty of two 
of the Deputati Synodi to be present, and no 
examination shall in any case proceed without the 
attendance of one Deputatus from another Classis, 
who shall see that the examination is performed 
with strictness, propriety, and justice, and duly 
report the same to the next Particular Synod. 
That the Deputati may obtain proper and timely 
notice, it shall be the duty of the President of the 
Classis, upon application being made to him for 
an examination, (which application shall be made 
at least four weeks before the contemplated meet- 
ing of Classis,) to send immediate information to 
the Deputati, and communicate the time and place 
when and where the same is to be held, in such 
manner that the Deputati shall be notified at least 
three weeks before such examination. 

Sec. 5. Every Classis shall keep a book, in 
which the forms of subscriptions for candidates 
and Ministers of the Gospel are fairly written, 
which those who are examined and approved, shall 
respectively subscribe in the presence of the Clas- 
sis. It shall also be the duty of every Classis, 
annually to report to the Synod all persons who 



40 



have been examined and licensed, as well as those 
who have been ordained ; and also, all removals 
cf Ministers from one place to another, or by 
death, which may have happened within the 
jurisdiction of such Classis, since the last session 
of Synod. 

Sec. 6. Whenever the examination of a candi- 
date for the ministry, the approbation of a call, or 
any other special business shall render an extra- 
ordinary meeting of the Classis necessary, it shall 
be the duty of the President of the Classis, upon 
application being made to him for that purpose, to 
call by circular letters the members together. 
And, whenever two Ministers and two Elders be- 
longing to the Classis shall, upon any occasion, 
request in writing, under their hands, an extraor- 
dinary meeting, the President of the Classis may 
not refuse calling the same ; provided that the ex- 
penses attending all extraordinary meetings of the 
Classis shall be always supported by the person or 
congregation at whose request, or for whose be- 
nefit, such session is held. 

Sec. 7. The meetings of the Classis shall be 
semi-annual, at such times as they may respect- 
ively determine ; and at every ordinary session, a 
sermon shall be preached. 

Sec 8. The Classis shall at their meeting next 
preceding that of the Particular Synod, appoint 



41 



delegates to attend the said Synod, and nominate 
delegates to the General Synod ; and, at the same 
meeting, shall put to the Ministers and Elders re- 
spectively the following inquiries, and enter in de- 
tail the several answers given by each Minister 
and Elder, on the minutes, for the information of 
the higher judicatories 

1st. Are the doctrines of the Gospel preached 
in your congregation in their purity agreeably to 
the word of God, the Confession of Faith, and the 
Catechisms of our church ? 

2d. Is the Heidelbergh Catechism regularly ex- 
plained, agreeably to the constitution of the Re- 
formed Dutch Church? 

3d. Are the catechising of the children and the 
instruction of the youth faithfully attended to ? 

4th. Is family visitation faithfully performed ? 

5th. Is the 5th Sec. 2d Art. 2d Chap, in the 
constitution of our church carefully obeyed ? 

6th. Is the temporal contract between Ministers 
and people fulfilled in your congregation ? 

Sec. 9. It shall be the duty of the several Classes 
to require from the respective Consistories a sta- 
tistical table filled up according to such formula 
as General Synod shall prescribe, accompanied 
with such remarks on the spiritual state of the 
congregation as they may deem proper. 

4* 



42 



Sec. 10. For the regular obtaining of dismis- 
sions of Ministers, it is required that a neighbour- 
ing Minister of the same Classis to which the 
congregation belongs, be invited to be present, 
and superintend the dismission of the Minister 
from his congregation, countersign the instrument 
of dismission, and consider it as his duty to deli- 
ver the same, with a report upon the subject, to 
the Classis ; which report and document shall 
serve as a basis upon which the final dismission 
and certificate of the Classis shall be founded. 

ARTICLE IV. 

Of the Particular Synod. 

Sec. 1. Every Particular Synod shall compre- 
hend a certain number of Classes, to be designated 
by the General Synod, and shall consist of a dele- 
gation of two Ministers and two Elders, from every 
Classis within its bounds, and seven Ministers and 
seven Elders, w-hen regularly convened, shall con- 
stitute a quorum for the transaction of business. 

Sec. 2. To the Particular Synod belongs exclu- 
sively the power to form new Classes, to transfer a 
congregation from one Classis to another ; to exer- 
cise a general supervising power in case of appeal 
over the acts and proceedings of the Classes within 
its bounds, and have cognizance of such matters 



43 



as appertain to the spiritual welfare of all the 
churches within its jurisdiction. 

Sec. 3. Every Synod shall be at liberty to soli- 
cit and hold correspondence with its neighbouring 
Synod, or Synois, in such manner as shall be 
judged most conducive to general edification. 

Sec. 4. Every Synod shall appoint a Deputatus 
primarius and secundus, from each Classis within 
its bounds, whose duty it shall be to superintend 
the examination of students in theology, and can- 
didates for the ministry, to add a solemnity to the 
important work, and see that no undue liberty, 
superficial proceedings, or unnecessary rigour, 
be practised. And it shall also be their duty, as 
Commissioners of Synod, to advise, exhort, and 
endeavour to persuade the Classis in all that re- 
spects the strict fulfilment of the important duty 
of examinations ; but they are not invested with 
aoy authority to arrest the proceedings of any 
Classis who may act contrary to their advice ; nei- 
ther may they vote upon any question respecting 
any candidate that may be examined ; but they 
are to keep reguiar minutes of the proceedings at 
their different examinations where they are pre- 
sent, and impartially report to the Synod whatever 
£hey may judge improper or wrong. 

Sec. 5. A copy of the minutes of every session 
of the several Classes held since the last session of 



44 



Synod, shall, at the opening of the Synod, be pro- 
duced and laid on the table for the inspection of 
the members : the Particular Synod, from the seve- 
ral reports of the Classes on the state of religion, 
shall prepare a Synodical report, to be presented 
to the General Synod, accompanied with the sta- 
tistical tables of said Classes. 

Sec. 6. The Particular Synod shall meet annu- 
ally, at such time and place as they may determine, 
and special meetings may be held for the transac- 
tion of any extraordinary business, upon the writ- 
ten request of four Ministers to the President of 
the Synod ; and in such case it shall be the duty 
of such President to give notice to the members of 
Synod of such meeting three weeks previous thereto, 
stating the particular object for which the Synod 
is to be convened. 

article v. 

The General Synod. 

Sec. 1 . The General Synod shall consist of three 
Ministers and three Elders from each of the Classes, 
to be nominated by the Classes to the Particular 
Synod to which they belong, who shall have power 
to appoint the persons so nominated delegates to 
the General Synod ; but, for good cause, may ap- 
point other persons than those so nominated ; or, 
in case no nomination is made, may appoint the 



45 



delegates for the Classis.or Classes who shall have 
omitted to nominate. 

Sec. 2. The General Synod shall meet annu- 
ally, at such time and place as they may determine, 
and twelve Ministers and twelve Elders, when 
regularly convened, shall be a quorum for the 
transaction of business. 

Sec 3. The General Synod shall have original 
cognizance of all matters relating to the Theolo- 
gical School, the appointment of Professors, and 
their course of instruction, the appointment of Su- 
perintendents of the said school, and the regulations 
thereof ; and shall possess the power of regulating 
and maintaining a friendly correspondence with 
the highest Judicatories or Assemblies of other 
religious denominations, for the purpose of pro- 
moting union and concert in general measures 
which may be calculated to maintain sound doc- 
trine, prevent conflicting regulations relative to 
persons under church censure by the judicatories 
of either denomination, and to produce concert 
and harmony in their respective proceedings to 
promote the cause of religion and piety. 

To the General Synod belongs the power to 
constitute Particular Synods, and to make any 
changes in the same, to exercise a general super- 
intendence over the spiritual interests and con- 
cerns of the whole church, and an appellate super- 



46 



vising power over the acts, proceedings, and deci- 
sions of the lower assemblies, relating to Christian 
discipline or the interests of religion, and the ge- 
neral welfare and government of the church. 

Sec. 4. If circumst ances should require a meet- 
ing of the General Synod previous to the next 
ordinary meeting, the president shall, on a joint 
application of six or more Ministers requesting the 
same, call an extraordinary meeting at the place 
where the next ordinary meeting is appointed to 
be held, notice of which meeting shall be given to 
the members of Synod at least three weeks pre- 
vious to the time of such meeting, stating the par- 
ticular business for which it is called, not however 
excluding the transaction of such other business 
as the Synod may deem proper. 



CHAPTER III. 

Of Customs and Usages. 

ARTICLE I. 

Sec. 1. The sacrament of baptism shall always 
be administered in the church, or some other place 
of public worship, at the time of public worship, 
and the form adopted for baptism hitherto in use, 
shall in every case be retained. In cases, how- 
ever, of the sickness of the parents, and especially 



47 



of the infant, it is lawful to administer this sacra- 
ment in private. But no private baptism shall 
be administered without the presence of at least 
one Elder, who shall accompany the Minister for 
that purpose, and the same form and solemnity 
shall be always used as in public baptism. 

Sec. 2. Every church shall observe such a mode 
in the administration of the Lord's supper as shall 
be judged most conducive to edification, provided 
however, after the sermon and usual public prayers 
are ended, the form for the administration of the 
Lord's Supper shall be read, and a prayer suited 
to the occasion shall be offered, before the mem- 
bers participate of the ordinance. 

Sec. 3. The sacrament of the Lord's supper 
shall be administered at least twice a year, and it 
is recommended that the same be administered 
once every three months. 

Sec. 4. For the purpose of uniformity in the 
order of worship, the following is to be observed 
by all the churches : — 

1st. After a space for private devotion, the 
Minister shall introduce the public worship in the 
morning by invoking the Divine presence and 
blessing. 

2d. Salutation. 

3d. Reading the ten command men Is, or some 
other portion of Scripture, or both, 



48 



4th. Singing. 

5th. Prayer. 

6th. Singing. 

7th. Sermon. 

8th. Prayer. 

9th. Collection of Alms. 

10th. Singing. 

1 1th. Pronouncing the Apostolic Benediction* 
The order of the afternoon and evening services 
shall be the same as the morning, excepting the 
reading of the ten commandments. The last ser- 
vice on the Lord's day shall conclude with the 
Christian Doxology. 

Sec. 5. No Psalms or Hymns may be publicly 
sung in the Reformed Dutch Churches, but such 
as are approved and recommended by the General 
Synod. 



CHAPTER IV. 
Of Discipline. 

ARTICLE I. 

Of Discipline in General. 

Sec. 1. Discipline is the exercise of the authority 
and the application of the system of laws, which 
the Lord Jesus Christ has appointed in his church. 



49 



Its objects are the removal of offences ; the vin- 
dication of the honour of Christ ; the promotion 
of purity and general edification of the church ; 
and also the benefit of the offender. 

Sec. 2. All Christian discipline is spiritual, 
and nothing shall be admitted as matter of accu- 
sation, or considered an offence, which cannot be 
proved to be such from Scripture, or the regula- 
tions of the church founded on Scripture. 

Sec. S. AH baptized persons are members of 
the church, are under its care, and subject to its 
government and discipline. 

ARTICLE II. 

Of Private Offences. 

Sec, 1. Private offences are those that are known 
to an individual only, or at most to a very few. 

Sec. 2. Such offences are not to be immediately 
presented before a church judicatory, but the of- 
fender shall be dealt with according to the mode 
pointed out by our Lord, in Matt, xviii. The 
same course shall be adopted in cases of personal 
or private injuries ; but if, on due forbearance, 
these tender and Christian proceedings are una- 
vailing, the whole matter shall be represented to 
the judicatory to which the offender is amenable. 
5 



50 



Sec. 3. Informers who have not taken these 
previous steps, shall be considered as guilty of an 
offence against the peace and order of the church, 
and be censured accordingly. 

ARTICLE III. 

Public Offences. 

Sec. 1. Public offences are those that require 
the cognizance of a church judicatory, as when 
they are so notorious and scandalous, that no pri- 
vate measures would obviate their injurious effects, 
or when, though originally known to one, or a few, 
the private measures taken have been ineffectual. 

Sec 2. When any person is charged with a 
crime, not by an individual, but by general rumour, 
the previous steps prescribed by our Lord in case 
of private offences are not necessary, but the pro- 
per judicatory is bound to take immediate cogni- 
zance of the matter. 

Sec. 3. To constitute a general rumour, or 
fama clamosa, it is necessary — 

1st. That it specify some particular sin or sins. 

2d. That it should have obtained general circu- 
lation. 

3d. That it be not transient. 
4th. That it be accompanied with strong public 
presumption of its truth. 



51 



Sec. 4. In admitting accusations against a Mi- 
nister or Elder, the rule prescribed in 1 Tim. v. 19, 
shall always be observed, and accusers must come 
forward openly to support the charge. 

Sec. 5. If Ministers of the word have committed 
any public gross sin, which would render their 
appearance in the pulpit under such circumst ances 
highly offensive, it shall be the duty of the Con- 
sistory, in order to prevent scandal, to shut the 
door against such criminal, and refer him to be 
tried by the Classis as soon as possible. The 
proceedings of the Consistory in such cases are at 
their peril, and are not to be considered as a trial, 
but only a prudent interference and binding over 
the person accused, to the judgment of his peers. 
In case of like effences by the Elders and Deacons, 
they shall, upon trial and conviction, immediately 
be removed from their office by the Consistory. 

Sec. 6. The following are to be considered as 
the principal offences that deserve the punishment 
of suspension, or removal from office, viz. False 
Doctrine or Heresy, Public Schisms, open Blas- 
phemy, Simony, faithless Desertion of Office, or 
intruding upon that of another, Perjury, Adultery, 
Fornication, Theft, Acts of Violence, Brawlings, 
Drunkenness, and scandalous Traffic ; in short, 
all such sins and gross offences as render the per- 




pctrators infamous before the world ; and which 
in a private member of the church would be con- 
sidered as deserving excommunication. 

Sec. 7. If any member of the church shall be 
duly convicted of an infamous crime by any civil 
court, he shall, ipso facto, be debarred from the 
exercise of the peculiar functions of any ecclesias- 
tical office with which he may be invested, and 
excluded from the privileges of the church, until 
he shall have established his innocence, or mani- 
fested by repentance to the ecclesiastical judica- 
tory to which he is amenable. 



ARTICLE IV. 

Of Process and Trial. 

Sec. t. Offences may be brought before a judi- 
catory by individual accusation or common fame. 
In the former case, the process must be in the 
name of the accuser or accusers. In the latter? 
no person need be named as the accuser. 

Sec. 2. In exhibiting charges, the times, place, 
and circumstances shall be accurately stated in 
writing, that the accused may be enabled the bet- 
ter to defend himself. 

Sec. 3. Great caution is to be exercised in 
receiving accusations where there is good reason 



53 



to believe that they are preferred through passion 
or improper and unchristian motive ; or where 
the accuser is under censure, or not of good cha- 
racter, or has the prospect of temporal advantage. 

Sec. 4. All citations shall be issued and signed 
by the President or Clerk, who shall also furnish 
citations for such witnesses as may be required on 
either side. 

Sec. 5. A copy of the accusation shall be fur- 
nished to the accused, at the time when the cita- 
tion is served ; which citation shall designate the 
time when, and place where, the accused shall put 
in his answer. Not less than ten days shall be 
allowed to intervene between the time appointed 
for receiving the answer of the accused and the 
trial of the case, unless by consent of all parties 
interested. 

Sec. 6. When the accused refuses to obey the 
citation, h@ shall be cited a second time, which 
second citation shall always be accompanied by a 
notice, that if he still refuse to appear, at the time 
and place appointed, he shall not only be liable to 
censure for contumacy, but that the judicatory will 
proceed to the trial and decision of his case as if 
he were present. 

Sec. 7. The trial shall be impartial. The wit- 
nesses, after being sworn, or solemnly affirmed, 



54 



shall be examined in the presence of the accused f 
and he shall be permitted to cross-examine them. 

Sec. 8. To establish an accusation against any 
member of the church, the testimony of more than 
one witness is required. The evidence snail be 
faithfully minuted, and with the sentence, or deci- 
sion, be entered on the records, and the parties 
shall be allowed copies of the same at their own 
expense, if desired. 

Sec. 9. No complaints in cases of scandal shall 
be admitted, unless brought forward within the 
space of one year and four months after the crime 
shall be alleged to have been committed ; except- 
ing when it shall appear that unavoidable impedi- 
ments prevented the bringing an accusation sooner. 

Secv 10. No professional counsel shall be per- 
mitted to appear and plead in cases of process in 
any of the ecclesiastical courts. But if any ac- 
cused person feel unable to represent and plead 
his own cause to advantage, he may request, or 
the President may appoint any Minister or Elder, 
belonging to the judicatory before which he ap- 
pears, to prepare and conduct his cause as he may 
judge proper. But the Minister or Elder so en- 
gaged, shall not be allowed, after pleading the 
cause of the accused, to sit in judgment as a mem- 
ber of the judicatory. 



55 



Sec. I!. Such as obstinately reject the admo- 
nitions of the Consistory, or have been found guilty 
of the commission of a public or otherwise gross 
offence, shall be suspended from the Lord's sup- 
per, which act of suspension may be published at 
the discretion of the Consistory ; and being sus- 
pended and repeatedly admonished without disco- 
vering marks of repentance, the church shall then 
proceed to the last remedy, namely, Excommunica- 
tion, agreeably to the adopted form, and conform- 
ably to the word of God. But no person shall 
be excommunicated without the previous advice 
of the Classis. 

Sec. 12. Before the church proceeds to excom- 
munication, the obstinacy of the offender shall be 
publicly notified to the congregation, declaring his 
offences, together with the particular care and 
attention bestowed on him, by admonition, suspen- 
sion from the Lord's table, and by repeated remon- 
strances. The congregation shall also be exhorted 
farther to admonish the delinquent, and to pray 
for him. This procedure shall be comprised in 
three several steps. In the first instance, the 
name of the offender shall not be mentioned, that 
he may in some measure be spared. In the second, 
with tho advice of Classis, his name shall be ex- 
pressed. In the third, the congregation shall be 



56 



informed, that unless he repenteth, he will be ex= 
eluded from the communion of the church ; so 
that if he remain obstinate, his excommunication 
may take place with their tacit approbation. The 
interval between these notifications shall be at the 
discretion of the Consistory. 

Sec. 13. When an excommunicated person 
becomes penitent, and is desirous of being again 
reconciled to the church, such desire shall be pub- 
licly declared to the congregation, either before 
the administration of the Lord's supper, or at some 
other seasonable opportunity ; that if no objections 
are offered, he may, on declaring his repentance, 
be publicly readmitted to a participation of the 
Lord's supper, agreeably to the form appointed 
for that purpose. 

Sec. 14. The General Synod shall have power 
to make all such rules and regulations as may be 
necessary for carrying the foregoing articles into 
execution, except where provision is thereby made 
for that purpose. 

Sec. 15. No alteration shall ever be made to 
the foregoing articles, but by previous recommen- 
dation from the General Synod to the respective 
Classes, and the consent of a majority of the same 
to such proposed alteration, together with the final 
determination and resolution of the General Sy- 
nod for the time being. 



APPENDIX* 



No. I. 

Form of a Professoral Appointment. 
To the Rev. 

The General Synod of the Reformed Dutch 
Church in North America, reposing confidence in 
your piety, learning, and talents, have elected you 
a Professor in their Theological College at New- 
Brunswick. The branches in which you are to 
instruct the youth committed to your charge are, 

with such modifications as the Synod may here- 
after direct. 

To free you from worldly cares and avocations, 
while discharging the duties of your office, we 
promise and oblige ourselves to pay to you the 
sum of in payments, 

yearly and every year, so long as you continue 
Professor in our Seminary as aforesaid. For the 
assumption of the powers, and the execution of 
the duties of your office in the Theological De- 
partment of the College, this is your Commission, 



58 



and may the Head of the Church render your 
labours useful and pleasant. 

Signed by order of Synod, 

President. 

Bone in General Synod, 
this day of 



No. II. 

Form of License. 

To all whom it may concern, In the name of the 
Lord J esus Christ, the great Head of the Church, 
we send greeting : 

Be it known, that having 
presented to the Classis of testimonials 
of his literary and theological acquirements from 
the Professors of the Theological Seminary at 
New-Brunswick, was admitted to an examination 
in the Hebrew and Greek languages, and the dif- 
ferent branches of Theology, as prescribed in the 
Constitution of the Reformed Dutch Church in 
America, and that the Classis being well satisfied 
of his gifts, piety, and qualifications to preach the 
Gospel, did, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, 
the King and Head of the Church, resolve that 



59 



the said be, and hereby is allowed 

and authorized as a candidate for the sacred mi- 
nistry within their bounds, and wherever the Pro- 
vidence of God may call him to preach the Gospel 
of our blessed Lord and Saviour, And the said 
Classis recommend him to the esteem and atten- 
tion of all those to whom these presents may come, 
as well qualified to preach a crucified Saviour. 

The Classis do fervently pray, that the great 
Head of the Church may farther qualify him for 
the work of the ministry, and make him eminently 
useful in that part of his vineyard where he may 
be called. 

Done in Classis, in the on this 

day of ,18 

President, 

Clerk. 



No. III. 

Form of Testimonials of Ordination. 

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the great 
Head of the Church, to all whom it may con- 
cern, we send greeting : 

Be it known, that was admitted 

by the Classis of to an examination 



60 



on the different branches of Theology, as prescribed 
in the constitution of the Reformed Dutch Church 
in America, preparatory to ordination, and the 
Classis being well satisfied with his gifts, piety, 
and qualifications to preach the Gospel and admi- 
nister the sacraments, did, in the name of the Lord 
Jesus Christ, the King and Head of the Church, 
resolve that the said be ordained to the 

Gospel ministry, and in conformity to said resolu- 
tion did, on the day of set him apart 
solemnly to the work of the sacred ministry accord- 
ing to the rites and forms of the Reformed Dutch 
Church, and receive him into ministerial commu- 
nion. And the said Classis do recommend him to 
the esteem and attention of all those to whom these 
presents shall come, as qualified to preach the Gos- 
pel and to administer the sacraments of our Lord 
Jesus Christ. 

The Classis do fervently pray that the great 
Head of the Church may abundantly qualify him 
for the work of the ministry, and make him emi- 
nently useful in that part of the vineyard where 
he may be called to labour. 

Done in Classis at on this 

day of 18 

President 

Clerh. 



61 



No. IV. 

Form of a Certificate of the Dismission of a Mi- 
nister from his Congregation, 

This certifies, that the undersigned, by request, 
was present at a meeting of the Consistory of the 
Church of on the day 

of A. D. and superintended the 

proceedings thereof, when it was resolved that an 
application be made to the Classis of for 
a dissolution of the pastoral connexion between 
the Rev. and said Church ; and 

that the Rev. declared his con- 

currence in such application. 



No. V. 

Form of Certificate of Dismission of Church 
Members. 

This certifies, that is a member in 

full communion of the Reformed Dutch Church 
of in good and regular standing ; as 

such is, at own request dismissed, for the pur- 
pose of connecting with the Church 
6 



62 



of to whose Christian fellowship and confi- 
dence is hereby affectionately commended ; and 
when received by them, peculiar relation to this 
Church shall cease. 
By order of Consistory, 

President. 

Given at 

18 

This Certificate is valid only for one year from its 
date, except where there has been no opportunity cf pre- 
senting it. 



63 
No. VI. 

Form of the Register of Baptisms. 





.a o 




e of 
ism. 


- 

B. In recordin 


JVames of the 
Baptized. 






the name of 
maiden 


fames of the 
Parents, 


the Mother, gi 
name. 




Time of 
Birth. 


<« 




tr 

o 




family 


Remai 


o 


Co 



64 
No. VII. 



Form of Consistorial Report. 



1?= 


Number of Families, 


nT 
S 




Total of the Congregation. 


Qe 

S 




Members in communion 
per last report. 






On Confession. 


PS 






On Certificate. 


tived\ 


g 


Dismissed. 


1 


Suspended. 


s 


| Died. 






Total now in Communion. 






Adults. 


Bapt 




Infants. 






Number of Catechumens. 


Cat. and 
Bib. Class. 




Number in Biblical 
Instruction. 




Number of Schools. 






Total Number of 
Scholars. 


9 

5s- 




Average Attendance. 


ools. 



Bo 



65 



No. VIII. 

Form of Certificate of Marriage. 

To all whom it may concern. — This certifies, 
that the Bonds of Marriage between 
and were by me confirmed, according 

to the usages of the Reformed Dutch Church in 
North America, on the day of 

in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun- 
hundred and 

Given at this day of 

A. D, 18 

C Minister of the Ref» 
< Dutch Church in 



6* 



66 
No. IX. 

Form of a Classical Report. 



S3 

3 



P o 
>3 j£ 





CHURCHES. 




PASTORS. 

'< 




Number of F ami. 
lies. 


o 

TO 




Total of the Con 
gregation. 


CO 




In Communion per 
last Report. 




| On Contession. 

| On Certificate. | « 


© 

1 


Dismissed. 


s 


j Suspended. 




| Died. 


2" 


1 Total in Communion. 




| Infants. 




\ Adults. 


I 




Number of Cate 
chumens. 


Cat. and 
Bib Classes 




Number in Biblical 
Instruction. 




Number of 
Schools. 






Total number of 
Scholars. 


Co 

o 




Average number of 
Scholars. 


ools 




►2f 

-t ' 






© o 
o 





G7 



No. X. 

Form of the Citation of a Person accused. 

By order of the * you, Mr. A. R. 

t are hereby summoned J to appear 

before said and answer to the charge 

herewith presented at on the day 

of at o'clock, 



Signed, Pres. 

Clerk, 

Done in at this 
day of 18 

* Consistory of the Reformed Dntch Church at 
or, the Classis of 

} Member of, or Elder, or Deacon in said Congregation ; 
or Minister at under the inspection of said Classis. 

J If the process be raised at the instance of a party 
complaining, add, after " summoned," at the instance of 
C. D. 



68 



No. XL 

Form of the Citation of Witnesses* 

By order of the * you, Mr. A. B. 
t are hereby summoned t to appear 
before the said at on the 

day of and at o'clock 

in the to give your testimony in the case 

of C. D e presently under process for censure by 
said 

Signed, Pres. 

Clerk, 

* Consistory of the Reformed Dutch Church at 
or, the Classis of 

| Member of, or Elder, or Deacon in said congregation ; 
or Minister at under the inspection of said Classis, 

and if the witness belongs to a different judicatory, the blank 
is to be filled up accordingly. 

{ If the process be raised at the instance of a party com- 
plaining, add, after the word ££ summoned," at the instance 
of CD. 



KUL.ES 

For the Government of General Synod in their 
Proceedings. 

1st. At every stated meeting of the Synod, a 
sermon shall be preached by the last President, 
either before his opening the session with prayer, or 
at some time afterward, which the Synod shall 
deem most convenient. If the last President and 
the Adsessor be absent, the oldest minister pre- 
sent shall take his place, and perform the above 
duties. 

2d. The President and an Adsessor shall be 
elected by ballot. Two Clerks shall be elected 
by the same ballot, and in the same manner. 

3d. The duties of the President shall be to take 
the chair at the hour to which the Synod stands 
adjourned ; to open and conclude with prayer ; to 
direct the Clerk, immediately after a quorum has 
appeared, and prayer been performed, to call the 
roll ; to censure absentees, when their absence 
shall be judged not to have been necessary ; to 
propound the subjects for deliberation ; to confine 
speakers to the point, and to save them from un- 
necessary interruption ; to state and put the ques- 



70 



tion, when the members are prepared to vote ; 
to prevent members from leaving the Synod with- 
out permission ; to decide questions of order, sub- 
ject, however, to an appeal to the House by any 
two members : to give the casting vote in all equal 
divisions ; and in general to maintain that order 
and dignity becoming the Judicatory of the Church 
of Christ. 

4th. After calling the roll, the minutes of the 
last sitting shall be read, and considered as open 
to correction. The business on the minutes of 
the last meeting or sitting, shall, without powerful 
reasons, be taken up and concluded first in the 
order in which it stands, before any new business 
be introduced* 

5th. A motion made must be seconded, and 
afterward repeated or read aloud from the chair, 
before it is debated ; and every motion, except a 
motion for adjournment, shall be reduced to wri- 
ting, if any member require it. 

6th. An amendment may be made on any 
motion, and shall be decided before the original 
motion ; but when a question is under debate, no 
motion shall be received, unless to amend it, to 
postpone it, to commit it, for the previous ques- 
tion, or to adjourn. If a question contains several 
parts, any member may have it divided, and a 



71 



question taken on each part. When the previous 
question is called for, and which shall be in this 
form — " Shall the main question be now put ?" — 
until this be decided, all amendments and further 
debate on the main question shall be inadmissible. 

7th. A question shall not be called up or recon- 
sidered at the same session of the Synod at which 
it has been decided, unless by consent of two-thirds 
of the members present. 

8th. No member shall be allowed to protest 
against any of the acts of the Synod : any member 
who dissents from any such acts, shall have a right 
to require the names of all the members present, 
who vote for or against the same, to be entered 
in the minutes, and published therewith for the 
information of ail concerned. 

9th. Every speaker shall rise, and address him- 
self to the President only, closely attending to the 
subject in debate, avoiding all personal reflections, 
and no member, without the special permission of 
the Synod, shall speak more than twice on the 
same subject. When two or more members rise 
to speak at the same time, the President shall de- 
termine who of them shall be heard first. 

10th. No member shall leave the Synod to re- 
turn home, or for other business, without their 
consent ; nor shall members, without express per^ 



mission, engage in private conversation, go from 
or change their seats, during the transaction of 
business ; interrupt another when he is speaking? 
except he be out of order, or to correct mistakes 
and misrepresentations ; and if any member act 
indecently or disorderly, contrary to these rules, 
the President shall reprove or otherwise censure 
him, as the Synod shall judge proper ; the mem- 
ber still having the privilege, if he think himself 
denied of any right, or unjustly blamed by the Pre- 
sident, of respectfully and modestly requiring the 
decision of the House in the case. 

1 1th. All the sittings of the General Synod shall 
be concluded by regular adjournment and prayer. 

12th. At the close of every session of General 
Synod, the roll shall be called, and the names of 
those who are absent without permission shall be 
recorded. 

Resolved, That these articles be read at the 
opening of every General Synod. 



